CS/HB 539 — Alarm Confirmation

by Careers and Competition Subcommittee and Rep. Cortes, B. (CS/SB 876 by Regulated Industries Committee and Senators Bean and Brandes)

This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.

Prepared by:
Regulated Industries Committee (RI)

CS/HB 539 revises s. 489.529, F.S., to require, in most circumstances, two attempts to confirm alarm signals generated by residential or commercial intrusion and burglary alarms systems with central monitoring, before law enforcement may be contacted for response to the premises generating the alarm.

The bill requires the first attempt to confirm an active alarm signal be made by the central monitoring station, via communication by telephone call, text message, or other electronic means, with a person associated with the premises generating the alarm signal. If the first attempt to confirm the alarm signal is unsuccessful, then the central monitoring station must attempt to confirm the alarm signal a second time, via communication by telephone call, text message, or other electronic means, with the premises owner, an occupant, or an authorized designee.

Under current law, contact with law enforcement for a response to an alarm may not be made unless a central monitoring verification call is made to a telephone number associated with the premises, and if the call is not answered, then other, undefined “call-verification methods” for the premises must be employed.

Verification calling is not required, however, if the intrusion/burglary alarm:

Has a properly operating visual or auditory sensor enabling monitoring personnel to verify the alarm signal; or

Is installed on a premises used for the storage of firearms or ammunition by an alarm company customer who holds a valid federal firearms license as a manufacturer, importer, or dealer of firearms or ammunition, who has notified the alarm monitoring company the customer would like to bypass the two-call verification protocol.

If approved by the Governor, these provisions take effect July 1, 2018.